wilson



(No Model.)

' Sheets-Sheet 1.

J; 0. WILSON & G. DAV

I ELEQTRIGSIGNAL Box, I No. 288,536. Patented Nov. 13, 1883.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. 0. WILSON 8v M. a. DAVIS.

ELEGTRIG$IGNAL BOX.

No. 288,536. Patented Nov. 13, 1883.

f4? WM @767 a N. PETERS Pwwum w. Washington. 0. c.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. 0. WILSON 8; M. G. DAVIS.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL BOX.

"Pat'ntedN'ov. 13"," '1 883.

N. PETER; Phnlo-Ulhognpher. vlnmin lw. n. c,

. 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 (No Model.)

J. U-WILSON 8c M. G. DAVIS.

. ELEGTRIG SIGNAL BOX. No. 288,536; Patented Nov. 13, 1888. I

41111 In: t

N. PETERS. Pholn-Utlwgnplwr. Wublnghm. D. C.

UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN 0. WILSO or BOSTON, ND MILTON or. DAVIS, OF WEST SOMERVILLF, MASSACHUSETTS; SAID DAVIS ASSIGNOR To. SAID WILSON.

ELECTRIC-SIGNAL BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 288,536, dated November 13, 1883.

Application filed July 13, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern 11 in drawings is a S ecification like letters y a 1 7 on the drawings representing like parts.

Our invention, relating to a district or police system signal-box,- is intended as an improvement on the signal-box previously invented by J. C. Wilson, for which applications Nos. 92,633 and 92,681 were filed April 23,

1888. .In the presentinvention the multiplesignaling mechanism, substantially the same as described in the said application No. 92,681, is contained in a strong inclosing-case having a movable door or cover controlled by a lock, and also. having an opening or key-hole independent of the door-lock, through which a key may be inserted and operated to start the box, the said key being called the starting-key or citizens key to distinguish it from the door-key by which the door is unlocked. The said starting-key is engaged immediately after it is operated to start the box, and cannot be thereafter removed until the door of the box isopened by an authorized person having a key to the door-lock, the said door controlling the holding or locking device for the startingkey. In using the box as a part of a police system the starting-keys are distributed among responsible citizens, they being properly numbered for identification, and the policemen have door-keys for the boxes, they alone having access to the interior of the boxes and multiplesignal mechanism therein. The pointer for operating the multiple-signaling device is controlled by the door of the box, it being antomatically restored to its normal position when the door of the box is closed, so that the signal transmitted from the exterior of the box by the citizen is always the same. The box has an additional pull or starting. device,

accessible at its interior when the dooris open,

to send the desired one of the multiple sig nals.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a signal-box embodying this invention, the door being open or'removed, affording access to the multiple- Signal pointer and inside pull or starting device; Fig. 2, a horizontal section thereof, looking upward or in the direction of the arrow 20, Fig. 1; Fig. 8, a detail showing the key locking. and releasing device; Fig. 4, a detail showing a portion of the internal mechanism of the box; Fig. 5, a side view of the internal starting device shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a side elevation of the pointer for operating the multiple-signaling device; and Fig. 7 an elevation of the interior mechanism of the signal-box on a larger scale, one of the frame plates being removed.

The internal signal-producing mechanism, A, inclosed in a strong case or box, B, consists, essentially, of a train of wheel-work, a

a a, terminating in an escapement, b b. The

shaft 0 of the wheel 03, carrying the breakwheel 0, co-operates with the spring (I to send a signal for the number of the'box or station. The said shaft 0 also carries a revolving pin orcontact-spring, c, cooperating with the different surfaces of the multiple-signal device or drum 6, which is concave, as shown,

so as to be touched by the spring e. in its revo lution. The surface of the said drum is cut away or recessed, as shown, so that when turned on its shaft 0 to present different sides to the spring 6, the latter will make and break,

The springe is insulated from the shaft 0, but

connected with a metallic disk, f, on the said shaft, in contact witha stationary spring, j, which, with the spring d, is connected with one end of the main circuit enteringthe box, while the metal frame-work, including the break-wheel c and multiplesignaldi'um f, are connected with the other end of the main'circuit, which is completed from the said springs (Z and e to the saidwheel or drum, and is broken as the, the said wheel and spring e are marked upon it the different signals that might K loose on the main or winding shaft 1', and is provided with a pawl, 71., which is engaged by a ratchet, 5, fixed on the said shaft i, and which is acted upon by a spring, i tending to turn it in the direction to actuate the said train. The winding-shafttis extended to the side of the outer case, B, where its end is provided with a spindle, to receive a citizen s or starting key inserted through a suitable keyhole, It, in the side of the said case. shaft is also provided with a projection, 6*, to be engaged by the key-bit, so as to enable the shaft to be turned by the key to wind up the spring and presentanew tooth of the ratchet i to the pawl h, carrying the train, to turn under the stress of the spring 1" as soon as the operator lets go of the key. When the citizens key is thus inserted and turned it is engaged by a key holding or locking device, m, (shown in this instance as a gravitating pawl pivoted at m, see Fig. 3,)whicl1 dropsbehind the bit of the key, preventing it from turning backward far enough to be withdrawn from the key-hole. A stop, m prevents the forward rotation, of the key after it has turned'the shaft 2' a sufficient amount, so that itis securely locked in the key-hole, although it can be turned sufficiently to send in the alarm any desired number of times. The citizens key is released when the proper officer arrives and opens the door of the box by the key-releasing device a, shown as a sliding frame provided with a pin, a, and acted upon by a spring, a tending to move it in the direction to cause the said pin to act upon an inclined surface, m", of the locking device m, so as to turn the latter on its pivot and remove it from the path of the bit of the citizens key. The releasing device is restrained frombeing moved by the springn by aprojection, n onthe door 0 of the case B when closed, as shown in Fig.

2, the said door being controlled by a lock, L, of any suitable construction, itself operated by a door-key, with which the policeman or other authorized officer is provided.

WVhen the door of the box is opened, the multiple-signal drum 6 may be turned to any desired position by a .pointer, I, fixed upon the shaft T6 of the said drum, the said pointer cooperating with the dial D, filling substantially the whole opening of the box 13, and having be sent, as shown in Fig. 1, the drum 6 and dial being capable of accommodating a very;- large number of signals, of which only a comparatively small number are shown in Fig. 1.

The said WVhen the pointer has been turned to the desired signal, the shaft i may be turned to wind the spring 1'", to cause the motor to transmit the signal by the internal pull or starting device,0, having a sliding movement in a guide, 0, and being provided with a stud or projection, 0, that engages an arm, 0", on the shaft 6, rotating the said shaft as the pull or handle 0 is drawn outward, and thus having the same effect as the citizens key upon the said shaft. The said pull is provided with a retractingspring, 0*,which drawsrit back independently of the action of the spring {2 on the shaft 1'. The shaft 1' is provided with a stop-arm, f, which, by its engagement with the stop-projection p, limits the movement of the shaft i and train of wheel-worl:,when actuated by the spring i and in order to arrest the arbor c, with the break-wheel c thereon ,in exactly the proper position with relation to the spring d,

the said arbor is provided with a secondary releasing-arm, 1, upon the other side of the said frame-plate, adapted to be engaged by the main stop-arm i ,to thus release the secondary stop-arm 1' when the spring 6- is wound to actuate the train, the arm 9' moving beyond its stop 1* before the releasing-arm 0" thereof is disengaged by the main stoparm i in its return movement.

It is essential that when the box is closed and the'signal operated by the citizens key from the outside the same signal should always be given; or, in other words, that the multiple-signal drum 6 should always be in the same position, which is accomplished by providing the pointer P with a cam, t, (shown as spiral in shape,) it co-operating with a pro.- jection or friction-roller, u, upon the interior of the door 0. In closing the door the said roller engages the cam, and causes it and the connected pointer and drum 6 to rotate until the lowest point of the said cam is under the said roller, when, as shown in Fig. 1, the pointer is vertical. Thus when the door is closed the pointer and drum 6 are always in the same position, and the same one of the surfaces of the said drum co-operates with the spring 6. The surface of the drum thatthus .co-operates with the spring 6 when the door box, or that produced by the break-wheel c,

which signal will be understood as a call for police. The door 0 has a central recess, R, for the cam of the pointer I, and an annular recess, R, for the knob or handle P of the said pointer, so that the latter can revolve freely under the influence of the cam t and roller a while the door is being closed.

. It is intended that the police or watchmen on going their rounds shall open the box and send a signalfor instance, patrol, which will be understood as signifying that all is right, andif this signal is not received at the proper time an officer will be sent to find out the cause, as the failure to receive the signal will indicate that the watchman is either negligent or in trouble.

It is not new to release a spring-actuated signaling'motor by a key-insertion from the outside of the box, nor to lock or retain such a key to indicate the person that thus operated the box; but by having the actuatingspring of themotor wound by key thus inserted it is possible to repeat the signal as often as desireda result thathas not been previously attained, so far as we are aware.

We claim I 1. I11 a signal-box, a motor for actuating a circuit-breaker, and an inclosing-case there for, the said motor comprising a winding shaft adapted to be turned by a winding-key inserted from the outsidepof the said case to wind the. actuating-spring of the motor, and thereby cause the said motor to operate, as described, combined with a looking or retaining device for the said winding-key, whereby it is retained in the case, but permitted to turn freely when inserted therein for the purpose of giving a signal, substantially as described.

2. The motor for transmitting a signal, and inclosing-case therefor, having a movable door or cover, the said motor being adapted to be actuated by a key inserted from the outside of the case, combined with a locking or retaining device for the said key, and a releasing device therefor controlled by said door, substantially as described.

3. The motor for transmitting a signal, and an inclosing-case therefor, the main or actuating shaft of the said motor being adapted to be engaged bya keyinserted from the outside of the case, and provided with an arm, combined with an independent starting device accessible only at the interior of the case, cooperating ,with the said arm, substantially as y described.

4. A signalbox containing a multiplesignaling device and a pointer or handle to set it to transmit any desired one of the signals, combined with an inclosing-casehaving a movable door co-operating with the said pointer, whereby the multiple-signal device is always set to a single definite position when the door is closed, substantially as described.

5. In a signal-box, the motor and its inclosing-case, having a movable door, the actuating or winding shaft of the said motor being adapted to be engaged and operated by a key from the outside of the case, combined with the pivoted key-retaining deviceand its spring pressed releasing device controlled by the said movable door, substantially as described.

6. The motor for actuating a break-wheel and its main stop-arm l, and co-operating stop, combined with the secondary stop-arm 011 the shaft of the break-wheel, and its movable stop adapted to be disengaged from the said secondary stoparm by the main stop-arm,

substantially as described.

'7. Ina signal-box, the motorand its inclos= ing-case, adapted to be operated by a key inserted into the said box from the outside, and means'to engage the said key and prevent its withdrawal from the case, combined with the door of the case, which, when closed, acts to prevent the release of the said key, and which, when opened, permits the said key to be withdrawn from the ease, substantially as described.

8. In a signal-box having a suitable dial, a pointer provided with an inclined surface, combined with a door having a suitable pulley or projection to strike against and move the said pointer always to one position when the door is closed, substantially as described.

I11 testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN CORNELIUS WILSON. MILTON G. DAVIS. Vitnesses:

Jos. I. LIVERMORE, -W. H. SIGSTON. 

